Few would have expected 2011’s reboot film Rise of the Planet of the Apes to spawn one of the best movie franchises of the last decade, but thanks to incredible special effects and a gripping cast of characters, that’s exactly what it did

Few would have expected 2011’s reboot film Rise of the Planet of the Apes to spawn one of the best movie franchises of the last decade, but thanks to incredible special effects and a gripping cast of characters, that’s exactly what it did

Every year, the Super Bowl ranks as one of the most-watched television events in the U.S. Last year's matchup between the 49ers and the Ravens pulled in 108 million viewers. That's an awful lot of eyeballs watching men in tights battle for a big hunk of sterling sliver. This year, Super Bowl XLVIII brings plenty of interesting story lines like Peyton Manning's return to the Super Bowl, a face off between the NFL's highest powered offense versus the league's best defense, and the matchup of two teams from states that have legalized weed – because if there's one thing the Super Bowl was missing, it was a political angle. If that's not enough to keep your attention on the big screen and you still find yourself itching to pull your phone out of your pocket, load it up with these second-screen apps to stay entertained if the game gets out of hand.

RUWT stands for "Are You Watching This?" If you're not a huge sports fan, or maybe you accidentally stumbled into the wrong Super Bowl party and they're just watching cooking shows that feature oversized dishes, then it's good to keep this app in hand. Not every Super Bowl is a great game, and not every moment is worth watching, but this app will tell you exactly when to tune in. If the score gets close or a great play happens, RUWT will tell you to turn to the channel the game is on in your area. You won't have to miss any of the plays people are talking about the day after, nor will you have to sit through the boring moments to see them.

There's all kinds of buzz surrounding the Super Bowl, with a two-week build up to the game to make it even more dramatic. Once kickoff happens, you have to release all that pent-up trash talk. If you can't make it to a Super Bowl party, log in to PlayUp and it will act as your digital living room. Open and private chat rooms let you talk shop with just your friends, or fans all over, and live score updates fan the flames. The insults of your rivals hurt significantly less when you can't hear them and they're spelled wrong.

Similar to RUWT, Thuuz is an app with a weird name that provides a great service. It tracks games to tell you when things are starting to heat up. By offering a ranking on a scale of 0 to 100, Thuuz tells you just how interesting the game is, so you know when to flip to it. It's a great option for the domesticated sports fan who may find him or herself watching House Hunters: International Edition with a spouse while anxiously twitching at the thought of missing a good game. If the game gets to must-see territory, just say you're going to the bathroom and turn on a TV in another room.

As if there wasn't enough competition going on on Super Bowl Sunday, FanCake adds another layer. Log into the app and connect with your Facebook friends as you compete with one another by taking part in real-time events and prediction challenges. If a big 3rd down comes up, the app might prompt you to pick what the result will be. You push your answer, your friends lock in to theirs, then you watch and see who's right. You earn points and trophies, which are far less valuable than the Vince Lombardi Trophy, but still brag-worthy.

Unless you're in Las Vegas, gambling is illegal. Gambling with real money, that is. Turns out the government can't stop you from betting all your hypothetical cash on anything you want. So stick it to the man and get Sports Bet. This app makes every part of the game a wager, from yards gained to individual performances and the final score. You can take on friends and compete in-app for who's the best gambler. It's a great way to work up your confidence before you go to Vegas and lose all your actual money.

Not every team can make it to the Super Bowl. Unless you're an extremely flaky fan that hitches on to the back of any bandwagon destined for success, odds are good your favorite squad is sitting at home watching the Super bowl just like you. But that doesn't have to be the case in the alternate reality on your second screen. Re-play the entire 2013-14 NFL season and drag your favorite team to the glory that comes with being a Super Bowl Champion with Madden NFL 25. Plus, if you're a Bears fan, you can go back in time and not hand Jay Cutler that ridiculously huge contract.

If you attend the Super Bowl, the program is a collector's item. Of course, this means the price for the glorified magazine is jacked up as well, and you'll have to carry it with you all day. Whether you're at the game or need some reading material while watching from home, just download the Super Bowl XLVIII – NFL Official Program app. It will fill you in on the Broncos and Seahawks and their paths to the title game, plus provide plenty of historical content about the Super Bowl legacy so you can understand why that shiny trophy is so important.

When you have a matchup between the two best teams in the league, it's hard to predict who is going to win. What isn't hard to predict about this particular Super Bowl, though, is that it's going to be cold. That won't be the case for people watching from home, who can warm their stomachs with delicious meals made with the NFL Homegating app. With a countdown to kickoff letting you know how long you have until guests arrive and tons of in-app recipes to choose from, you can throw together the ultimate Super Bowl party.

Fox gets the opportunity to broadcast the Super Bowl this year, which means we'll all have to reluctantly accept the ramblings of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman from the announcer's booth. If you can't catch the game on the big screen, you can grab the Fox Sports GO app and still see all of the action on your phone or tablet. Though it requires you to log in through your cable provider, you will be able to watch a live stream of the Super Bowl and all of the pre-game and post-game happenings surrounding it.

Where TheScore usually shines is in it's personalization. You have your favorite teams that you like to keep up with, and the rest of the league are villains in your mind. But it's the Super Bowl! There's only two teams playing. TheScore will provide you with regular updates of all the plays and events worth mentioning, making sure you don't miss out on the notable parts of the year's biggest game. And for all the other moments that you're not as interested in, you can browse theScore for information and updates about your favorite squads in other sports. We're sure there's some good soccer games happening.

What's Cooking Now celebrates viewer-submitted recipes, with a different theme each week. This week's offerings feature great ways to enjoy your favorite Super Bowl party food without adding on the pounds.

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